Infographics: Are the budget cuts necessary or just plain stupid?

The Dutch budget for arts & culture institutions is relatively small. The above average cuts will produce below average results.

In 2011 the budget is € 490 million to support the cultural infrastructure. That sounds like a lot, but it is only a third of what we spend on holidays. It's 1,5% of the annual costs of the State Pension, and only 0,2% of the country's total Budget.

Hoeveel hebben we die roekeloze banken eigenlijk gegeven?

Re: Re: Re: And how is the art money spent?

nescivi:Willem Velthoven:indeed a good question. you can see what we do and with whom we work on our calendar and activity overview. The number or artists is rather high if you compare it to our budget. We are not in the habit of spending money on annual reports and that kind of stuff. rather we give it to the artists who are always paid at Mediamatic.But if you want you're welcome to come and make those infographics based on the numbers that you can look into...I'm more of a sound artist myself, so I would make infosonics.

In that case, you are welcome at STEIM for experimenting with new instruments for live performance ;-). Workshops, guesthouse, studios, coaching, individual advice, you name it... Need any help with your infosonics? We facilitate hundreds (!!!) of artists every year with the funding we get, we even do our own research, and are part of the MusicLab team (de Zwijger, Amsterdam). Places like STEIM, Mediamatic and the other labs are actually extremely efficient: LOTS of value for money for our society.

Re: And how is the art money spent?

Dear Nescivi,I agree with you that the more factual information we have, the better. I don't know if you're aware of the research Gerard Marlet has done, but he has done a really good job in making clear the (in)direct economic effects of art and culture. Cultural institutions don't have the know-how and resources that a researcher like Marlet has, and I'd suggest you read his work. It's mind blowing - the positive economic impact on cities, the job market etc. is downright huge.

@Evelyn

That's not the point Nescivi was making.

The public opinion has pretty much turned against artists/makers as wasters of money.
The institutions are morally appealing to artists/makers to join forces and oppose policies.
The pressure is on the artists/makers from all directions.

Artists/makers want institutions to be up-front about such questions as:
How is public funding allocated by institutions, in terms of purpose (wages, buildings, materials etcetera)?
What percentage is received by artists/makers?
What percentage by other parties?
Is everyone getting payed except for me?

This information will help make clear everyone's position in this discussion and everyone's contribution to the problem/solution.

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: And how is the art money spent?

nescivi:nescivi:Maybe together as cultural sector we can present all the facts as they are now, and in addition provide insight in what the current proposals would cost the state in the short term (it seems this government wants quick results, so show them). And maybe together look for possibilities for the future in the long run.

Dear Nescivi,

I agree with you that the more factual information we have, the better. I don't know if you're aware of the research Gerard Marlet has done, but he has done a really good job in making clear the (in)direct economic effects of art and culture. Cultural institutions don't have the know-how and resources that a researcher like Marlet has, and I'd suggest you read his work. It's mind blowing - the positive economic impact on cities, the job market etc. is downright huge.

Open

I agree with Nescivi.
The art sector, specifically institutions, need to provide clear information about how public money is spent, in order for this discussion to be balanced.
All public funding: national, regional, local, structural, incidental.

Re: Re: Re: Re: And how is the art money spent?

nescivi:I'm more of a sound artist myself, so I would make infosonics.I'm sure you have to keep financial records being an institute this big, so the info should be easily available...

Willem Velthoven:well nescivi, our national funding is 660.000 euro, that's o,13 percent of the arts funding on the dutch state. All new media art labs together get ca. 4.500.000 from the state. That is less than 1% of the arts funding in the netherlands.The current policy proposal is to stop all direct state funding for all new media labs.

Yes, I am aware of the situation and the uncertainty at the moment of how things will go on for these institutes, who certainly contribute to the arts. Especially for media arts the situation is still quite unclear, as far as I have heard.

However, in discussions I am having with people (and I'm sure others as well) there are questions raised about where the money actually goes, how much goes to the artists, and how fair the current situation is in terms of competition for non-subsidized cultural institutes and/or festivals and the like. I'd love to have a well founded opinion on matters such as these, so I jumped on the wagon to get some insights.

As this debate will be going on, it is good for all the cultural institutes to have their facts ready so they have a solid ground for their arguments against the cuts. Better to be prepared in a fight.

I've signed the petition that demanded "no cuts on the arts without all the facts". So why not take the first step as cultural institutes and provide all the facts. That means relating both to other state expenses, like the infographics posted show quite clearly, as well as relating to how the art money is spent at the moment. How many artists get their income from the subsidies, how many other personel in cultural institutes, and from these two, how much goes back into the state in the form of taxes, how much do the cultural institutes generate in terms of income (sales on tickets, workshop fees, etc) and tax income for the state? How much would introducing the cuts actually cost the state in the short term (in terms of unemployment money, additional rent subsidies and health care subsidies (huur- en zorgtoeslag) because of lower incomes? How many performances, exhibitions, festivals, public art works, etc are open to the public because of the subsidies.

Maybe together as cultural sector we can present all the facts as they are now, and in addition provide insight in what the current proposals would cost the state in the short term (it seems this government wants quick results, so show them). And maybe together look for possibilities for the future in the long run.

If there is a better forum to have such a discussion, then please let me know; my intention is not so much to attack Mediamatic, but since the post suggests you want to open up the debate, I thought I give it a try.

Re: Re: Re: And how is the art money spent?

nescivi:I'm more of a sound artist myself, so I would make infosonics.I'm sure you have to keep financial records being an institute this big, so the info should be easily available...

well nescivi, our national funding is 660.000 euro, that's o,13 percent of the arts funding on the dutch state. All new media art labs together get ca. 4.500.000 from the state. That is less than 1% of the arts funding in the netherlands.

The current policy proposal is to stop all direct state funding for all new media labs.

Re: Re: And how is the art money spent?

Willem Velthoven:indeed a good question. you can see what we do and with whom we work on our calendar and activity overview. The number or artists is rather high if you compare it to our budget. We are not in the habit of spending money on annual reports and that kind of stuff. rather we give it to the artists who are always paid at Mediamatic.But if you want you're welcome to come and make those infographics based on the numbers that you can look into...

I'm more of a sound artist myself, so I would make infosonics.

I'm sure you have to keep financial records being an institute this big, so the info should be easily available...

Re: And how is the art money spent?

indeed a good question. you can see what we do and with whom we work on our calendar and activity overview. The number or artists is rather high if you compare it to our budget. We are not in the habit of spending money on annual reports and that kind of stuff. rather we give it to the artists who are always paid at Mediamatic.

But if you want you're welcome to come and make those infographics based on the numbers that you can look into...

nescivi:Could this be supplemented with an infographic on how Mediamatic spends the money they get in subsidies? How much is going to the artists themselves?How many artists are supported by the activities of Mediamatic (and in how far do they have to pay for this? e.g. participation in workshops)? How many people are benefiting from the activities of Mediamatic?Maybe openness about where the money goes will help open up the debate about all the facts, rather than just demanding a debate on this.

And how is the art money spent?

Could this be supplemented with an infographic on how Mediamatic spends the money they get in subsidies? How much is going to the artists themselves?

How many artists are supported by the activities of Mediamatic (and in how far do they have to pay for this? e.g. participation in workshops)? How many people are benefiting from the activities of Mediamatic?

Maybe openness about where the money goes will help open up the debate about all the facts, rather than just demanding a debate on this.